Why no love for the C-26 preamp?

[Phototone]

It just doesn't seem that many people here like the C-26 solid state preamp. Why is that? What makes it sonically inferior to say a C-28?

 

[mhardy6647]

Have you heard one?

 

[nitrous]

McIntosh C26 preamp

Mine sounds quite nice, thank you.(Oh, btw, I also use a C28 & C30 as well, so I know how they sound as well.)

 

[MX117.MC7150]

The C26 is not inferior to the C28. The 'big step' in the design and sonics with McIntosh preamps was with the C29. Absolutely nothing wrong with the C26, other than age and need for a good cleaning and fresh 'lytics. My MX114 and pervious MX117 were both based on the C26 and I always look forward to listening.

 

[CountD]

I really like the sound for the C26. I don't think anyone here has no love for it because it sounds bad. I know I don't have much love for mine because of the volume pot issue - also on the C28. I have had nothing but problems with the volume pot - and a newer one is not that much better. I really like the sound of the C26 in the MX112/MX113 because it sounds right to me. And no volume pot issues....

 

[reggaenaut]

I did not like mine and got rid of it.

 

[John James]

I've had mine more than thirty years with no problems. I would never get rid of it.

 

[CountD]

Getting back to it, I would say that there is a lot of love for Roger Russell's design. It is a classic, sounds great, and has that warm Mc sound. They made more than 15,000 of them and it went on to become the C27. The basic design was used in the MX112,MX113, MX114, and MX115. I would say that this preamp design has had the most impact on early McIntosh history than any other, and is a brilliant design and is very widely recognized.

 

[Gregory]

I've had mine more than thirty years with no problems. I would never get rid of it.

I've had a C26 for over 30 years too. It was my first McIntosh. Probably bought it in 77 or 78 and played it heavily in college. After 1990 it was put back in the carton and only taken out every so often to inspect. Still looks and works great. Never had a problem with it.


-Gregory

 

[c_dk]

Count D

I have not been inside a C-26 in years. Have you confirmed the ground drains to chassis rivit for the volume control as well as the paralleled 2.2 meg resistors? If those grounds are corroded and add resistance the volume will not track.

 

[bliss53]

I really enjoyed the C26 I had until I listened to a refurbished C11 with a line of telefunken smooth plates.

 

[Phototone]

I really enjoyed the C26 I had until I listened to a refurbished C11 with a line of telefunken smooth plates.

Well now, I too have a couple of C11, in addition to the c26 and I do have to admit the C11 is one sweet preamp.

 

[reggaenaut]

I do have to admit the C11 is one sweet preamp.

:thmbsp::thmbsp:

 

[Mike Gibson]

I had a C-26 from 1971-2009 and never a moments trouble with it. It played daily and now plays daily for my niece in the system I gave her. I will always remember it as the first piece of Mac gear I owned.